Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Hi everyone, Melissa here with my entry for the May Color Challenge - Lindy's Stamp Gang. I used a mix of Bachelor Button Blue and Sweet Violet Purple Teal for the purple blue color. For the blue color I used Tibetan Poppy Teal, and for the green I used Sea Mint Green.

I used a stencil to apply texture paste on watercolor paper, then added a variety of things for added visual interest: microbeads, a cherub and a bird from Graphic 45 paper, a metal heart from 7 Gypsies, Martha Stewart stickers, and some gauze.

To make this page I painted a piece of watercolor paper and put the photo on. I sponged gesso onto the 7 Dots paper with a cosmetic sponge, then applied texture paste through a stencil. I only used part of the stencil, you can't see it too well at the right of the flower above. I added two more dragonflies from the stencil on the page with just paint.

I took a thin strip of cheesecloth and spread it over the background, stuck it on with a few dabs of glossy accent, then spread gesso over it. To add more textural interest I applied a variety of things, micro beads, pearls, stars by Little B, butterflies from Graphic 45 Nature's Sketchbook, confetti stars, Tim Holtz rub ons, mica flakes, tulle,metal glitter,bling,Ranger blue distress glitter, and more.

The Man in the Moon image is a Tim Holtz rub on.

The gold paint is by Firefly,it's a nice thick acrylic paint. You can also see some jump rings and pieces of gold embroidery floss here.

I outlined areas with Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencil in bark, and softened the lines with water.

I put some mini bottle caps on. There's a gold rub on here by Little B.

As a final step because I thought the page looked too busy I painted gesso on different areas where I'd already applied colors. Thank you so much for looking, and have a great week!

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Hi everyone! Melissa here with another design team inspiration page for the May moodboard here at Mixed Media Warriors. I felt like making a very feminine page, so I used a vintage wedding photo along with Blue Fern paper.

To make this page I applied texture paste with a Gabrielle Polloco stencil over gesso onto some Blue Fern paper, glued on some gauze, then applied embellishments. The little chipboard pieces are all Tim Holtz, the little hearts I had to make myself . I took the old Tim Holtz chipboard where the heart was already punched out, traced an outline with pencil onto watercolor paper, and cut it out. I prepped with white gesso and added Alchemy Opal Magic acrylic in pink/green, then topped it with a thick coat of clear crackle. I let the pieces dry overnight.

I added color with LSG and Faber Castelle watercolor crayons, then added more gesso because it looked too busy. I have to stand up from my desk to figure out a balance with all the items and paint. When the gesso was wet, and to add visual interest I added micro beads, seed beads, confetti stars, and mica flakes. I also painted all the items with a little gesso,then topped with watercolor, to sort of tie everything together.

I was fortunate to have this paper to match the colors for the month, and also my vintage pic.

I brushed on some thick acrylic gold paint by Firefly to some of the gauze, this seemed to warm things up.

As a final step I rubbed on Opal Magic wax in Green Brocade by Finnabair, to warm up the pale white, and dry look of the gesso. After the green I rubbed on gold wax in random spots.

The pink flower is Prima. The little flowers are by Little B. The metal pieces are Tim Holtz. The word stickers are by 7 Dots, it's wonderful being able to find something to say that fits all on a sticker!

Monday, May 1, 2017

I've used papers from Blue Fern, Seaside Cottage because the colors were the ones I wanted to use. I've always liked mermaids, so that was my starting point.

To make this page I used gloss gel to glue the page to a piece of cardboard, to help prevent buckling from the media I planned to use. I applied modeling paste with a Prima stencil. I applied a piece of gauze with heavy gesso. I used two layers of foam core board underneath a mat I made out of watercolor paper. I painted the mat with Lindys Stamp Gang - LSG with 3 colors. To create more visual interest I used the following: a pink flower by Prima, two white ones from Dusty Attic, a rhinestone key from Tresors De Luxe, stickers from 7 Dots, gold seahorses and silver starfish charms from Hobby Lobby, Tim Holtz and Little B rub ons, and more.

I painted around the stencil work with LSG and Derwent Inktense Pencils.

I sponged on Prima Heavy Gesso to make the page less busy looking.

I outlined a lot of areas with a Bark colored pencil by Derwent.

The tiny coral flowers are stickers from Martha Stewart.

I put white gesso on all the embellies and then paint on top to sort of tie everything together.